Weekly News Recap: May 18, 2018

Frank King was the CEO and chairman of Calgary's local Olympic committee for the 1988 Winter Games.(Genevieve Normand/CBC Radio-Canada)

Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment. -- Jim Rohn

News

Rick Hansen to receive U of L degree (Lethbridge Herald) LETHBRIDGE STORYNice move UofL! Well deserved. "The University of Lethbridge will be recognizing Canadian icon Rick Hansen, a three-time Paralympic gold medallist, with an honorary degree at the 2018 Spring Convocation ceremonies later this month." 5/15/18

Higher oil prices helping to lower Calgary unemployment rate: chamber of commerce (Global News) CALGARY STORY"No, it’s not a boom. But higher oil prices are helping lower unemployment rates in the city, according to the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. Over the past year, the price of West Texas Intermediate oil has gone from US$47.84 a barrel to US$70.51. 'Now with these prices, we are more optimistic that we are finally beginning to see the recovery hit that new chapter profitability and some actual hiring taking place in certain sectors of the economy,' said Scott Crockatt, director of communications at the Calgary Chamber of Commerce." 5/14/18

Resolve Campaign and Jayman unveil affordable housing project (Calgary Herald) CALGARY STORYCongrats to RESOLVE and to Jayman BUILT. ViTreo is proud to have worked with RESOLVE on its campaign to end homelessness. "Bowness will be the new home to 30 Calgarians at risk of homelessness when a new affordable housing complex opens in the northwest Calgary community next year." 5/12/18

Calgary’s civic partners continue to brave economic slump (The Star Calgary) CALGARY STORY"Construction, a cold snap and economic hardship continued to hit Calgary’s civic partners hard last year, but some key attractions are giving organizations hope for a better 2018. [A] council committee will get a glimpse of how the city’s civic partners fared in 2017 as 17 groups submit their annual reports. Last year, the city invested more than $175.3 million in organizations such as the Calgary Economic Development, Calgary Zoo and Telus Spark – an annual injection for the city’s cultural attractions." 5/12/18

Spiking gas prices take toll on Calgary charities (CBC) CALGARY STORY"Some Calgary non-profit organizations say the price at the pump is taking a bite out of their bottom line. Gas prices in the city are about 30 cents a litre higher than they were in May of 2017 and that's squeezing charities that rely on donations and fixed grants." 5/11/18

Calgary charity hit several times by gas line-cutting fuel thieves (CBC) CALGARY STORY"Thieves have targeted a Calgary charity multiple times in recent weeks, stealing gas from the non-profit's delivery trucks by cutting the gas lines and draining them. Karen Ramchuk, executive director of Women In Need Society, says the society had to spend more than $1,200 in one week alone towing and repairing their fleet of four delivery trucks — and that's not counting the value of the stolen gas." 5/11/18

Frank King, who brought Olympics to Calgary, dies at 81 (CBC) CALGARY STORYRIP Mr. King. "Frank King, one of the architects of the Calgary Winter Olympics in 1988, has died at the age of 81. King was the chief executive officer of Calgary's organizing committee and, along with Bob Niven, brought a games to Calgary that changed the face of the city and made Canada a powerhouse in winter sport." 5/10/18

Hockey legend Mark Messier, Great Big Sea frontman Alan Doyle invested into Order of Canada (CBC) CANADIAN STORYCongrats to all. "Known for his leadership skills both on and off the ice, hockey legend Mark Messier is considered one of the greatest players of all time," reads a release from Rideau Hall. 'A 26-year NHL veteran, six-time Stanley Cup winner and the only player to lead two different teams to league championships, he is renowned for his perseverance and for his ability to bring people together in pursuit of a common goal.'" 5/10/18

Calgary Zoo memberships rise since panda arrival (660 News) CALGARY STORY"It appears ‘panda-monium’ is already paying off in spades for the Calgary Zoo. During the first couple of days of Panda Passage being open, between 2,500 and 2,800 guests made their way to the park to see the four giant pandas on loan from China, which is just above average for this time of year." 5/10/18

Thousands of Ismaili Muslims from Edmonton area welcome Aga Khan in Calgary (CBC) EDMONTON STORY"More than 5,000 Ismaili Muslims from the Edmonton area are gathering in Calgary this week to visit their religious leader and mark his Diamond Jubilee. Prince Karim Al Hussaini Aga Khan IV is the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims. He succeeded his grandfather in 1957 and is the spiritual leader for approximately 20 million people worldwide." 5/10/18

Awards round-up: winners of 2018 Killam and NSERC prizes revealed (University Affairs) CANADIAN STORYI have been privileged to have met a number of these award-winners during my career in the academy. Canada really is a powerhouse of researchers in the arts, the sciences, and the humanities. We should be proud. "On May 8, the Canada Council for the Arts announced the latest recipients of the Killam prizes and fellowships, which recognize the outstanding work of scholars in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, health sciences and engineering." 5/9/18

Editorial: Tsuut'ina's bold vision (Calgary Herald) CALGARY STORY"All Calgarians can celebrate the Tsuut’ina’s recent economic development initiatives that promise to not only enrich the band, but buoy the region as a whole." 5/9/18

Community mourns the loss of Kainai Elder Andy Black Water (UToday) ALBERTA STORYRIP Elder Andy Black Water. "The University of Calgary community is saddened to hear of Kainai Elder Andy Black Water’s passing. An elder at Red Crow Community College and strong advocate for revitalization of the Blackfoot language, he was involved with the development of UCalgary’s Indigenous Strategy, as one of the ceremonial elders and cultural guides. In June 2017, he bestowed the name ii’ taa’poh’to’p to the university's Indigenous Strategy, which means ‘a place to rejuvenate and re-energize during a journey’." May 2018

Private foundations: Giving away money is harder than you think (Globe and Mail) CANADIAN CONTENT"One of the first moves brothers Michael and Richard Hyatt made after selling their first technology company in 2011 was to set aside $3-million in a private foundation as a way to give back to society and build a philanthropic family legacy [...]. 'Giving away money sounds romantic and great, but it’s hard to do,' says Mr. Hyatt." 4/13/18

The Beginner’s Guide to Deliberate Practice (Personal Growth) "One apprentice trained under Jiro for ten years before being allowed to cook the eggs." That is deliberate all right. I need to stop 'putting in the reps' and start putting in the focus and commitment. 4/19/18

Special Committee: Charitable Sector (Senate of Canada) CANADIAN CONTENTIn case you ever wanted to know who was on this committee. BTW, a CFRE fundraiser, Senator Terry Mercer, chairs the committee. May 2018

Opinion

Partisan biases influence 'the truths we cling to' about Alberta's economy (CBC) ALBERTA STORY"As University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe pointed out recently, Alberta's recession is now 'long over' and the economic recovery is underway. Yet, in a recent poll conducted for CBC News, fewer than half (45 per cent) of Albertans say they feel the economy is starting to recover." 5/15/18

Charities must innovate to attract a new generation of donors (Globe and Mail) CANADIAN CONTENTOur own former governor-general David Johnson weighs in. "The generosity of Canadians is unquestionable. According to tax filer data, Canadians annually give more than $14-billion to charities and non-profit organizations. But our strong culture of giving, so essential to our quality of life, is increasingly at risk." 4/10/18

Charities change the world. Why isn't that message getting through? (Guardian) "Anyone who has a job in the voluntary sector will know about the wedding problem. Those times when you meet old friends or distant relatives and, when asked about the day job, you explain that you are paid to work in a charity. The next 10 minutes often involve surprise that people get paid to work in the “voluntary” sector or assertions that nobody should be paid to work in a charity. Even worse, you might encounter a bit of #bizsplaining from the relative who tells you that charities are too amateurish and should be more like the private sector – just don’t pay the staff the market rate." 3/22/18

Philanthropic personalities

Barakett Brothers: How Two Canadian-Born Hedge Funders Do Their Philanthropy (Inside Philanthropy) CANADIAN CONTENT"Tim Barakett's Atticus Capital in New York City was once one of the largest hedge funds in the world, with assets under management over $20 billion in the late aughts. Then there's Brett Barakett's Tremblant Capital Group, with offices in New York and Greenwich. The Canadian-born Tim and Brett are brothers—Tim the elder—and last decade each Wall Streeter, and along with their spouses, established a family foundation, directing funds to causes like education, health, and more." 5/14/18

MUSK, ZUCKERBERG, BEZOS, AND ETHICALLY IFFY ‘PHILANTHROPY' (Wired) "THERE IS SUFFERING: look around. And where there is suffering, there are ordinary people trying to alleviate it. We volunteer our time, help our neighbors, give money when we can. [...] And then there are the tech moguls. Big software founder-CEOs, it turns out, aren’t just different from you and me; they’re different even from other billionaires. The rest of us concern ourselves with individuals, neighborhoods, communities, all of which can be improved; they are more concerned with the whole world, and even hypothetical future worlds." 5/15/18

Assessor, family differ over value of historic Bell estate (CBC) CANADIAN STORY"Alexander Graham Bell's descendants want to cut down on the tax bill for his former estate near Baddeck, N.S. They say the assessment value of $1 million that is used to levy municipal property taxes should only be about half that amount." 5/9/18

Philanthropy On the Rise in China (Barrons) "China’s super rich are increasingly becoming engaged in philanthropic causes, as their wealth expands in accordance with the country’s astronomical economic growth." 5/9/18

Reports and studies

30 Years of Giving in Canada) (Imagine Canada) "The landmark report, 30 Years of Giving in Canada, examines the charitable donations and giving patterns of Canadians from 1985 to 2014. This research was conducted by Imagine Canada for the Rideau Hall Foundation." May 2018

REID FOUNDATION GETS MILLION DOLLAR DONATION (Kicks96) "Reid Health has had a million-dollar donation. Debra Edelman has given a million dollars to the Reid Health Foundation in honor of her husband, Jack, who died in October of last year." 5/15/18

Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give Sets $1 Million Donation Goal for Year Five (Meijer LPGA Classic) "Representatives with the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give have set a $1 million goal for the fifth annual tournament to donate to the Meijer Simply Give program [...]. Meijer started its Simply Give program in November 2008, and has since generated more than $37 million for its food pantry partners." 5/15/18

Kraken Gives A Donation Of $1 Million To Coin Center (cryptona) "The CEO of Kraken cryptocurrency exchange, Jesse Powell, made a donation of $1 million to non-profit Coin center." The Coin Centre is dedicated to keeping blockchain networks like Bitcoin free and open. 5/15/18

Purdue Crew receives $1 million anonymous donation (WISHTV.com) "One million dollars: that's how much the Purdue Crew team is receiving as part of a donation to the program. The money will go toward boat house maintenance, as well as equipment costs. Additionally, the money will help pay for the yearly team member fees." 5/15/18

Holland Civic Center renovation project gets $1 million donation (ABC) "A $1 million donation has been made to further one of [Holland, Michigan's] biggest renovation projects. [Holland] city leaders [announced] the status of fundraising goals for the Holland Civic Center Place—which includes a $1 million grant from Elsa Prince-Broekhuizen, the widow of auto parts magnate Edgar Prince." 5/15/18

Uspiritus receives $1 million donation (ABC) "The local non-profit organization Uspiritus received a one-million-dollar donation from the owner of Sun Tan City and Planet Fitness." Uspiritus serves abused and neglected youth in Kentucky with residential psychiatric care, therapeutic foster care, community based services and more. 5/15/18

John Carroll University announces $10 million donation to create Boler College of Business (Cleveland.com) "John Carroll University is using a $10 million donation from the Boler family to transform the Boler School of Business into a college, allowing the university to create new programs and hire new faculty." John Carroll University is a private, co-educational Jesuit Catholic university in University Heights, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland. 5/15/18

Parshall School District receives $3.5 million donation to help build new school (Fox News) "Three Affiliated Tribes presented a $3.5 million donation [...] to help the Parshall School District build a brand new school. Parshall Public School was built in 1962. Over the years it has seen some wear and tear. The Three Affiliated Tribes have agreed to match funds raised up to $9 million. The project is expected to cost $18 million." 5/14/18

University of Maryland School of Nursing Receives $10 Million Donation (Daily Nurse) "The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) recently received a $10 million gift from Bill and Joanne Conway through their Bedford Falls Foundation. The generous gift will enable the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) to provide scholarships to nearly 350 students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees, and aid in addressing the state’s nursing workforce needs." 5/14/18

Melbourne Uni gets $30m gift from couple (The Australian) "A philanthropic husband and wife have donated $30 million to the University of Melbourne to fund scholarships for the next four decades. Paul Little and Jane Hansen, who built a fortune through real estate and developed the Hansen Little Foundation in 2015, gifted the university the money [...] to build a student residence and establish a scholarship program in their names." 5/14/18

$8 million donation fuels Creighton Prep effort to focus on students' emotional, academic needs (Omaha World-Herald) "With the help of the largest gift in school history for a capital project, Creighton Prep will build a $16 million 'learning commons' to address students’ academic and emotional needs. The Heider family, a longtime supporter of the high school and Creighton University, is donating $8 million. Prep will raise the rest." Creighton Preparatory School is a private, Jesuit high school founded in 1878 for young men locatd in Omaha, Nebraska. 5/14/18

$5M donation expands UVa nursing scholarships (Roanoke Times) "A recent donation to the University of Virginia School of Nursing will help more professionals gain degrees and move forward in nursing careers. The $5 million gift from Bill and Joanne Conway will enable scholarships for more than 160 nursing students at undergraduate and graduate levels." 5/12/18

Bitcoin’s Anonymous $55 Million Pineapple Fund Gives Final Donation (Bitcoin.com) "Health care, water potability, education, digital rights advocates, among many others, all felt the power and generosity of crypto. This week, Pineapple Fund announced its final donation. [P]ineapple Fund’s anonymous benefactor wrote, 'It’s been five months, and having just made my last PF donation to the Internet Archive, I figure it might be a good time to say farewell.'" 5/11/18

'Epic' donation brings big smiles (Lewiston Tribune) "In what the club director described as an 'epic day' for the organization, the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Lewis Clark Valley received the largest donation in its history [...] - a $1 million gift. The donation came from local business owners and club supporters Gary and Jutta Hughes." 5/11/18

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